Characterisation of ancient gypsum mortars from the archaeological site of Amathus, Cyprus

Abstract eng:
The purpose of the present research work was the mineralogical, mechanical and microstructure characterization of the gypsum mortars sampled from the internal parts of the crepis (foundation) of the Aphrodite temple and the walls of the early Christian basilica from the archaeological site of Amathus, Cyprus. The project is part of the studies carried out by the French Archaeological School of Athens in view of a possible anastylosis of the temple. The tests included (a) wet chemical analysis for the oxide determination, (b) XRD analysis, with nickel-filtered CuKα radiation, (c) TG/DTA analysis in the range of 251000°C, (d) scanning electron microscopy coupled with microanalysis, (e) optical microscopy performed in thin sections in transmitted light and (f) mechanical tests for the determination of the tensile strength. The examined binders were composed by hydrous calcium sulphate (CaSO4·2H2O) and small proportion of CaCO3 and SiO2, whose detection was attributed to their presence in the initial mineral gypsum.

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